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Mr. Duchesne says BCE has about 25 bikes in Toronto and Montreal that employees can "check out" just as they would a library book.
BCE has logged more than 1,000 check-outs since its bike-lending program was launched in 2003, he says. "There's actually a backlog in terms of reservations."
At Vancity, employees can also borrow a company bicycle for business or pleasure during the work day. Or if they've got to make a business trip during the day, they can hop into one of two company-owned smart cars.
That's not all. Vancity is also among employers who provide amenities such as secure indoor bike racks and showers for employees who prefer to get to work on their own steam -- they bike, rollerblade, run, walk or even ski.
It has also enrolled in an "employer pass" program, run by the regional transit authority, which gives employees a 15-per-cent discount on the cost of a monthly transit pass.
The discount, funded by the regional government, is available to Vancouver-area companies with 25 or more employees who commit to taking public transit for a full year.
Employers buy the discounted passes from the transit authority, then sell them to employees.
John Beaudoin, manager of transportation demand management for the Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority, says about 13,000 workers from more than 200 companies are subscribed to the program.
"We've seen the program double in the last two-and-a-half years," he says.
And for employees who may be reluctant to leave the car at home in case an emergency, such as a child getting sick at school, forces them to leave work in a hurry, Vancity will soon launch a "guaranteed ride home" program. It will make sure employees get home promptly -- either by taxi or another employee giving them a lift -- during an emergency, Mr. Mowat says.
The company's efforts to encourage employees to leave their cars at home is paying off, Mr. Mowat says. More than half of Vancity staff get to work other than by driving alone in their car.
Meanwhile, other employers simply hand their employees cold, hard cash to subsidize travel costs. At G.A.P. Adventures Inc., a Toronto company that specializes in eco-friendly tours, employees who take public transit to work get $25 a month, says spokeswoman Kira Zack.
And at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Hotel in Whistler, B.C., employees who live in some neighbouring communities get a transportation allowance of $7.25 a day that can be used to pay for gas or bus fare.
"It's tough to find people to work," says Michelle Graham, the hotel's HR director. "We use the allowance as part of our hiring and retention strategy."
While there are many reasons employees choose to accept and stay in a job, employers can't ignore the impact of commuting on the decision, Ms. Koutsodimos says.
"It shows you care about your employees when you offer them better commuting options," she says. "It's just another benefit employers can provide that can really set them apart."
Ease employees' commute
Find out if your city has a transit discount program. In some cities, employers can sign up for programs that give their employees discounts off transit passes. Call your local government or transit agency to find out if it runs such a program.
Give them an allowance. In place of a transit discount program, give employees a transportation allowance. This way, there's a financial incentive for everyone, not just those who take mass transit. And employees who really need to drive get a little help with their gas bill.
Encourage carpooling. Depending on the size of your company, you could set up an informal carpooling program or sign up with a service that will set up a carpooling database for your company.
Make it easy. Find out what obstacles stand in the way of employees taking alternative commuting modes and eliminate them. For instance, if employees are worried about their expensive mountain bikes getting stolen, provide secure bike racks indoors. If long jogs or bike rides mean employees must start their workday on a sweaty note, build a shower or subsidize memberships to a nearby gym where they can freshen up before reporting for work.
Provide a guaranteed ride home. Create a "commuting insurance" plan that will ensure employees who choose alternative transportation modes can get home quickly in case of an emergency. This could mean having cash or taxi vouchers always at the ready, or designating people who can drive a fellow employee home at a moment's notice.
Set an example. Don't talk the talk, then drive in to work in your SUV. Culture change starts at the top, so all managers need to look at how they can get to work in a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly way.
Marjo Johne
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